Yarn package support



March 18, 1969 D. M. WILLIS YARN PACKAGE SUPPORT Filed July 20, 1967 r fr WMU "fighi s v Ill I NVE NTOR:

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ATTORNEYS 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A yarn package supportwherein a longitudinally rigid and foraminous elongate tubular portionincludes male and female terminal extremities for mating engagement withadjacent like supports and a package abutment means carried by thetubular portion aids in limiting compression of a yarn package supportedon the support.

In certain processes for the treatment of textile yarns, the yarns areformed into packages and are then subjected to the ow of liquids, suchas dye liquor, through the package. In apparatus for owing liquidsthrough yarn packages, one conventional manner in which such liquid owsare obtained provides for columnar stacking of a plurality of yarnpackages on a spindle, with liquid then being pumped in a ow pathradially through the yarn packages and longitudinally along the spindle.In liquid treatment operations of this type, certain difficulties haveheretofore been present which have resulted in less than optimum controlover the proper flow of liquids through the yarn packages.

More particularly, where the yarn packages stacked in columnar relationon the spindle are of a type which is longitudinally compressible and alongitudinally compressing force is applied to the packages by theassembly of the liquid treatment apparatus, compression of the packageswill vary along the height of the spindle. Those packages closer to thelocation at which the longitudinally compressing force is applied willbe compressed to a greater extent. As the result of the greatercompressing of packages in one portion of the column height, pumpedliquid ows more freely through the less compressed packages and an evendistribution of ow is not obtained.

A further difliculty arises with the weeping or crosswicking of liquidbetween adjacent packages in the stacked columnar arrangement once theforced ow of liquids radially through the packages has ended. Moreparticularly, cross-wicking of liquid from the upper packages in thecolumnar stack into the lower packages in the stack results in an unevendrying of the packages, as packages in the lower positions in the columnreceive and retain a greater concentration of the liquid.

As is apparent upon consideration of these iiow pattern problems,particular difliculty develops where the liquid involved is a dyeliquor, as occurrence of either difficulty alone will result in unevenappearance of the dyed yarn.

In View of the aforementioned difficulties heretofore encountered inliquid treatment processes for yarn packages, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a yarn package support adapted to cooperatewith a longitudinally compressible yarn package and a spindle on atent C3,433,432 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 ICC which the package is supported instacked columnar relation with other like packages and supports in sucha manner that the difficulties heretofore present are avoided.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a yarn packagesupport including a longitudinally rigid and foraminous elongate tubularportion and a package abutment means which cooperate with a yarnpackage, when the package and support are arranged in stacked columnarrelationship with other like packages and supports on a spindle for aliquid treatment process, by assuring more uniform compression of yarnpackages, restricting the flow of liquid along undesirable flow paths,and diverting a downward ow of liquid Within packages to precludecross-wicking between packages.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated,others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection-With the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View, from below, of a support in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, in partial section, of a column ofpackages and supports arranged in stacked relation on a spindle for theow of liquid longitudinally of the spindle and radially of the packages;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through a portion of a package and support,taken substantially along the line 3 3 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevation, in partial section, of a portion oftwo adjacent supports and the spindle, taken as indicated in FIGURE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the application drawing, a yarnsupport 10 in accordance with the present invention is there shown inperspective from below (FIG- URE l), and the novel features thereof willhereinafter be described in conjunction with the illustrations. The yarnsupport 10 comprises a longitudinally rigid and foraminous elongatetubular portion 11, such as may be formed from perforate wall stainlesssteel tubing, and a package abutment means, generally indicated at 12,carried by the tubular portion 11. Preferably, the package abutmentmeans 12 comprises a generally planar flange, secured to the tubularportion 11 adjacent one terminal extremity thereof so as to beperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion 11. Asherein used, foraminous refers broadly to a construction of the tubularportion 11 W'hich permits free radial flow of liquid while maintaininglongitudinal rigidity.

In order to assure proper liquid flow through a longitudinallycompressible yarn package while the package and a support are mounted incolumnar stacked relation on a spindle with other such packages andsupports for the circulation of liquid longitudinally of the spindle andradially through the support and package, the support 10 is preferablyso constructed that the tubular portion 11 thereof is of predetermineddimensions correlated to the dimensions of a yarn package and a spindle.More particularly, the predetermined dimensions of the tubular portion11 are such that the outside diameter of the tubular portion is ofuniform diameter at least throughout the major extent thereof and issmaller than the inside diameter of the yarn package to be supportedthereon, and the inside diameter of the tubular portion is apredetermined amount larger than the outside diameter of the spindle onwhich the support and package are to be mounted. Due to thesediametrical relationships, the tubular portion l11 is adapted to titloosely within the central opening of a yarn package, such as thepackage P (FIGURE 2) and to lit loosely around a spindle, such as thespindle S. The length of the tubular portion 11 is a predeterminedamount shorter than the free length of the package P -when the same isin an uncompressed state so that, when initially assembled for mountingon the spindle S, the tubular portion 11 does not penetrate entirely thefull height of the package P.

In order to restrict liquid flow radially between the terminalextremities of adjacent supports when the same are positioned in stackedrelation on the spindle S, and thereby present resistance to liquid flowradially of the supports adjacent the terminal extremities of thetubular portions 11, the tubular portion has male and female terminalextremities for matingly engaging respective male and female extremitiesof adjacent supports when stacked therewith. More particularly, oneterminal extremity of the tubular portion 11 (namely the lower extremity14 in FIGURE l) is beveled or turned -inwardly so as to define a reduceddiameter male portion. The opposite extremity of the tubular portion 11(namely the upper extremity 15 in FIGURE 1) is formed to provide afemale portion for receivin-g therewithin the reduced diameter maleportion of an adjacent support 10 when the same are positioned instacked relation on a spindle. As illustrated, the female extremity 15is of the same diameter as the principal body portion of the tubularportion 11, but it is to be understood that the female extremity 15 maybe of larger or smaller diameter than the tubular portion 11, so long asthe mating engagement of the male extremity of an adjacent support 10 ismaintained and proper cooperation with the packages P and the spindle Sis obtained.

In order to further assure that proper mating engagement of male andfemale extremities of adjacent supports positioned in stacked relationon a spindle is obtained, this invention contemplates that the support10 further include means for engaging a spindle and positioning thefemale extremity 15 of the tubular portion 11 substantially concentricwith the spindle, so as to facilitate reception of a mating maleextremity of an adjacent support. Also, the tubular portion 11preferably further includes means for engaging a spindle and positioningthe male extremity substantially concentric with the spindle so as tofurther facilitate mating engagement with the female extremity of anadjacent support. In the form illustrated, the means for positioning thefemale terminal extremity includes a plurality of dimples or inwardprojections 16 formed by pressing the material of the tubular portion 11inwardly. Preferably, the inward projections 16 are three in number andthe internal diameter of the circle defined by the inward projections 16substantially corresponds to the external diameter of the spindle S.Accordingly, with a three point engagement of the spindle S, the femaleextremity 15 of the tubular portion 11 is positioned substantiallyconcentrically with the spindle S. The means for positioning the maleextremity 14 of the support 10, in the illustrated embodiment, comprisesthe inner surface of the reduced diameter portion of the tubular portion11, which preferably has an internal diameter closely approximating theexternal diameter of the spindle S. Certain of these relationshipsbecome more clear from a sectional view of matingly engaged male andfemale terminal extremities of adjacent supports (FIG- URE 4) In orderto prevent cross-wicking of liquid between adjacent packages P incolumnar stacked relationship on the spindle S, this inventioncontemplates that the package abutment means 12 take the form of animperforate flange having an outside diameter at least two and onehalftimes that of the tubular portion l1 and preferably approximating thatof the packages P. When the package abutment means 12 is in such flangeform, termination of radial flow of liquid through the packages Presults in ow of liquid remaining in the yarn of the package downwardlyuntil the liquid encounters the next lower iiange. The flow of fluid isthen diverted to the outside of the columnar Stack of packages P, ratherthan being permitted to cross-Wick into the next adjacent package below.Preferably, economy of manufacture of the support 10 is obtained byforming the flange form abutment -means 12 from a relatively thin sheetmaterial such as stainless steel. In such an instance, structuralrigidity and strength of the flange are enhanced by forming the flangewith a conical zone 17 intermediate the inner and outer peripheries ofthe planar circular member forming the flange.

It is contemplated that the length relationship between thelongitudinally rigid tubular portion 11 and the free length of theuncompressed yarn packages P impart a further advantage to the support10 of the present invention. More particularly, it is desirable toobtain uniform compression of the yarn in the packages P in columnarstacked relationship on the spindle S. Inasmuc-h as the same are securedto the spindle S for the liquid treatment by applying a longitudinalforce to the packages, obtaining uniform compression thereof can bedifficult, particularly where a longitudinally compressible core C suchas that shown, for example, in Annicq Patent No. 2,614,764 is used inthe package. Such longitudinally compressible cores have a natural freelength and tend to cause high compression of packages in one portion ofthe column, adjacent the location at which compressive force is applied,while permitting little or no package compression at portions of thecolumn remote from the location of force application` A predeterminedrelationship of length for the supports 10 used with such packagespermits obtaining uniform distribution of package compression bybringing all of the supports 10 in a particular column into end abuttingand mating engagement. As this occurs, the compressed length of thecolumn is determined solely by the total of the length of the engagedsupports 10, and each package P is subjected to substantially the samecompressive force as all other packages in the same column, providedthat the packages are of substantially uniform free length andcompressibility when in the uncompressed state.

In brief summary, it is believed apparent that the support 10 of thepresent invention provides advantages by restricting radial flow ofliquid between matingly engaged terminal extremities of adjacent stackedsupports so as to assure more uniform liquid flow, diverting freevertical ow of liquid retained within packages P so as to avoid theeffects of cross-wicking between packages, and controlling the degree ofcompression of a plurality of packages P in a stacked columnarrelationship on a spindle S. These advantages are obtained through theprovisions of male and female terminal extremities for the tubularportion of the support, an imperforate flange package abutment meanscarried by and extending from the tubular portion and the relationshipof these and other subsidiary features as described hereinabove.

-In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although speciic terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

I claim:

1. A yarn package support adapted to be arranged in columnar stackedrelation with other like supports on a spindle in a liquid treatingvessel to support a series of longitudinally compressible yarn packagesin compressed condition for aiding in proper ow of a treatment liquidradially therethrough, said yarn package support comprising alongitudinally rigid and foraminous elongate tubular portion of uniformexternal diameter at least throughout the major extent thereof and beingof predetermined length adapted to be surrounded by a compressed yarnpackage, said tubular portion being internally unobstructed forpositioning on the spindle, said tubular portion also having itsopposite ends constructed to define male and female terminalextremities, respectively, for mating engagement with the ends ofadjacent supports when stacked with such supports and compressed yarnpackages on a spindle, and package end abutment means carried by saidtubular portion and extending radially outwardly therefrom at apredetermined location adjacent one end thereof and adapted toabuttingly engage an end face of a yarn package, said abutment means onadjacent supports when in said columnar stacked mating relation beingpositioned and maintained in a predetermined spaced relationship foraiding in limiting the compression of the yarn package.

2. A yarn package support according to claim 1 wherein said maleterminal extremity on said tubular portion is inwardly beveled.

3. A yarn package support according to claim 1 wherein said tubularportion further includes means for engaging a spindle and positioningsaid tubular portion substantially concentric with said spindle so as tofacilitate mating engagement of the support with an adjacent support.

4. A yarn package support according to claim 1 wherein said tubularportion has a plurality of inward projections arranged for en-gaging aspindle to facilitate mating engagement of the support with an adjacentsupport.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,153,420 4/ 1939 Huttinger68-198 2,439,314 4/ 1948 Mulligan et al 618-189 2,853,253 9/1958 Tigges242-118.11 2,936,964 5 1960 Tigges 242-1181 2,942,801 6/ 1960 Cederberg.

FOREIGN PATENTS 695,151 8/ 1953 Great Britain.

GEORGE F. MAUTZ, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 68-198

